Page 86 of Immortal Bastard

“No,” little Cain said, swinging his leg from Faith’s hip.

“He’s protesting, but I think he’ll go down if you lay with him.” Faith smiled at the boy. “Do you want to lay with Momma for a bit?”

The little boy stopped fussing and rested his head on Faith’s shoulder and nodded, his arms reaching for the woman who held the bundled infant.

“I can take Lucy for a while,” the dark eyed woman said, and Delilah detected a touch of an accent. She must be one of the transitions.

“Perhaps introductions first.” The small woman pointed to herself. “I’m Gracie. This is my sister Larissa.” She waved a hand at the tall beauty with silver eyes.

“The bishop’s wife?” Delilah asked.

“That’s right,” Larissa said. “And this is Destiny and Annalise, my sisters by law.”

Destiny took the infant from Annalise, adjusting her hold so she could wave. “Oi.”

“And I’m Cain’s mommy.” Annalise took the boy from Faith and harnessed him onto her hip. “As you can see, it’s past nap time. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Delilah tried to memorize each face. The small one was Gracie, the tall one was Larissa. The curvy one was Destiny. And the one with baby Cain was Annalise. “And who is this?” She glanced at the sleeping infant wrapped in pink.

“This is Lucy, Anna and Adam’s newest.”

She didn’t know who Adam was.

“Adam’s my brother. He’s Anna’s mate,” Gracie promptly explained.

“Oh.”

“Come. Sit.” Larissa waved her to a chair. “We’ve been anxious to meet you.”

As soon as they sat, Gracie’s face pinched as if she suffered a sudden headache. “Grandmother, I believe they’re in need of you back at the house.”

“Yes, I was just on my way. It was lovely meeting you, Delilah. I hope we have another chance to visit soon.”

Larissa rubbed a soothing hand on Gracie’s shoulder but made no comment about whatever just happened. “So, Sister Delilah, how are you liking the farm?”

“I, uh, it’s outdoorsy.”

The girls laughed. “I heard Christian built you an indoor bathroom,” Larissa said and the other girls smiled appreciatively.

Gracie laughed, all signs of a headache now gone. “I’ll never forget how difficult Anna was about bathing in cold water when Adam first brought her here.”

“There really is nothing like modern plumbing,” Larissa agreed. “Once you have it, you can’t go back.”

“I insisted Cain had to build me a copper-heated tub before I’d marry him.”

Delilah frowned, forgetting which women were transitions and which were raised on the farm.

Gracie’s hand closed lightly over hers. “It can be overwhelming to learn so many new names and faces at once. The important thing is that we’re all friends. Larissa and I were raised right here in this house with our brothers, Adam and Cain. Annalise is mated to Adam and Destiny is Cain’s wife.”

“Cain and I are living here, for now,” Destiny explained. “With Gracie.”

“My father is ill, you see. And my mother won’t leave his side.”

Just then, a clatter erupted from the house and a child screamed. Gracie stood and sighed. “And that would be our youngest brother, Jaden.”

Delilah’s eyes widened as another loud clamor shook the house. “Is he okay?”

“He’s… temperamental. Excuse me.”

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